Thread protector



| H. LYTLE 2,212,423

THREAD PROTECTOR Filed July 18, 1939 Aug. 20, 19.40.

' clin /V1511;

A INVENTOR.

AT TORNEY.

Patented Aug. 20, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a thread protector.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a thread protector designed to protect the threaded areas of a tube or coupling.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a thread protector comprising a sleeve portion of resilient material and ametallic cupshaped portion adapted to be held in protective position by the said resilient sleeve portion.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of thread protection means for threaded areas adjacent the end of a' pipe, tube, coupling or similar object so designed that the protection means is easily placed in protective position and which will remain in protective position and which is at the same time easily removable when desired.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a thread protection means for the threaded ends of a. pipe or tube wherein a resilient sleeve portion is provided with means to effectively maintain itself upon a tube or pipe when the same is rolled about prior to the application of the metallic cup-shaped portion of the device.

The thread protection means shown and described in this application constitutes an improvement over those shown and described in my Patent #2,121,436, filed February 25, 1937, issued June 21, 1938, and that shown in my copending application for patent, Serial Number 178,725, filed December 8, 1937.

In the handling of threaded pipes, tubes and similar objects, it is very important that the threaded portions thereof be protected from mutilation due to handling during shipment and particularly damage to the threaded areas incurred during the trans-shipment of the pipe or tubes from one form of transportation to another. It is well-known that many thread protectors have been designed and used which have attempted to provide adequate protection means. Most of these thread protectors have been formed with various types of locking means and provided with various forms of liners, the most common of which have been various paper and fibre sleeves. The present invention as well as the patent and patent application above referred to disclose thread protection means wherein a sleeve of resilient material, preferably rubber, is employed in connection with a metallic cup-shaped portion in order to provide a more practical form of protector than those heretofore known to the art. This is primarily due to the fact that the resilient sleeve is so formed that it will cling securely to the thread end of a pipe or tube and retain itself proper position under normal conditions witho t the application of the metallic portion of the protector and when the metallic portion of the protector has been applied, the formation of the resilient sleeve serves to lock the entire assembly securely on the threaded area being protected. When the thread protector has once been locked upon the threaded area of the tube or pipe, it is necessary, in order to effect its removal therefrom, that the metallic portion thereof be split and in effect peeled from the threaded area thus effecting its removal which permits the removal of the resilient sleeve portion of the device.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in theprecise em--' bodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a partial cross sectional view of the protection means applied to the threaded area of a tube and shows in detail the resilient sleeve and the metallic cup-shaped portion of the device.

Figure 2 is a partial cross sectional view of the resilient sleeve portion of the thread protection means showing in detail the various parts thereof which serve to effectively position it upon the threaded end of a tube.

Figure 3 is a side elevation partially broken away showing the thread protection means being removed from a tube and showing in detail the means provided in the metallic cup-shaped portion of the device for its, effective removal from the resilient sleeve.

Figure 4 is a composite viewshowing to the left thread protection means applied to the threaded inner end of a coupling. The protection means being locked in protective position and showing to the right the resilient sleeve portion of the thread protection means in detail in released position in the coupling," dotted lines indicating the released position of the metallic cup-shaped portion of the device.

By referring to Figure 1 of the drawing it will be seen that the thread protector as adapted for use upon the outer threaded end of a tube comprises a rubber sleeve l and a metallic cup 2 applied to the threaded area of a tube 3; the rubber sleeve I being provided with the end sections 4 adapted to protect the end of the tube 3 and at the same time form an effective testing gasket. It will also be seen that the rubber sleeve 1 is formed with a taper 5 which corresponds with a taper 6 of the metallic cup 2 which provides a tapered outer end on the thread protection means so that thread protectors will remain in position upon the threadedends of the tubes during shipment at such times as the shifting of the various tubes will cause the protectors to drive forcibly against one another with a tendency to force them from their protective positions. The

formation of the tapered area of the protection means allows the tubes to shift with the thread protectors sliding harmlessly over one another.

By referring to Figure 2 of the drawing the various details of the rubber sleeve 1 may be seen. These include a plurality of axially extending ribs 1 formed on the inside of the rubber sleeve. These ribs 1, extending inwardly, make the inside diameter of the rubber sleeve slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the threaded tube over which the rubber sleeve is applied. These ribs I become highly important in maintaining the rubber sleeve upon the tube, particularly when the tube is rolled about the mill prior to the installation of the metallic cup 2. During such rolling a traction wave is set up which will' tend to roll the rubber sleeve away from the tube itself and loosen it so that it may bemme disengaged. This is prevented by the plurality of ribs I impinging themselves across the threads and breaking up the traction wave and securing the rubber sleeve in protective position. Still referring to Figure 2 it will be seen that a broad annular ridge 8 is formed upon the outer surface of the rubber sleeve l, inwardly from the outer end thereof which forms the primary compression means in relation to the metallic cup 2. It will thus be seen that the metallic cup 2 will, when placed in position, over the rubber sleeve 0, be securely locked thereto by reason of the displacement of the broad annular ridge 8 and that the rubber sleeve I, thru its ribs 1, becomes securely aflixed to the threaded area of the tube being protected as the displacement of the broad annular ridge 8 results in the practical impingement of the ribs 1 into the threads of the tube.

By referring to Figure 3 of the drawing it will be seen that frangible portions 9 are provided in the metallic cup 2 and that stamped openings Ill are provided adjacent the frangible portions 9 to facilitate the placement of a chisel or other tool for the convenient splitting of the said frangible portions 9. In Figure 3 one of these frangible portions 9 is shown intact and one is shown split open, which has necessitated the breaking of the portion ll of the rim of the metallic cup 2 in order to permit the metallic cup 2 to be effectively pried open and in effect peeled from the tube 3. The rubber sleeve l is shown intact.

By referring to Figures 1 and 3 of the drawing it will be seen that a deep cut annular groove I2 is provided in the outer end of the metallic cup 2 so that a circular section thereof may be conveniently knocked out to permit the use of a hook in handling pipe and tubes equipped with the thread protection means.

By referring to Figure 4 of the drawing, a composite view showing a modification of the thread protection means adapted for positioning in the threaded inner end of a coupling I3 is shown. The modified protection means comprises a rubber sleeve l4 having protective end portions i5 adapted to cover the ends of the coupling and a metallic cup l6 placed therein; the innermost end I! of which is suitably bulged so that an adjacent annular section l8 may be partially expanded to efiectively lock the protection means within the coupling. By referring to the right half of Figure 4 a cross sectional view of the rubber sleeve I4 is shown and it will be seen that a ridge portion I9 is provided at the inner end of the rubber sleeve ll which serves to .lock the protection means in the coupling thru the impingement of the ridge portion to into the threads of the coupling upon the application of the metallic cup IS. The dotted'lines represent the released position of the metallic cup l6 and its innermostend H which has been forced inwardly thus effectively moving inwardly the annular section I! and thus releasing the pressure at this point so that the metallic cup [6 and the rubber sleeve l4 may be removed.

What I claim is:

1. A thread protector adapted to cover the outer threaded end of a tube and comprising a rubber sleeve and a metallic cup, a plurality of axially extending ribs formed on the inner surface of the said rubber sleeve and adapted to hold the said rubber sleeve on the said tube by impingement across the threads thereof, a protective ,end section' formed on the said sleeve adapted to cover the end of the said tube, an annular ridge formed inwardly from the said protective end portion thereof so as to retain the said metallic cup in position thereon thru displacement of the said annular ridge when the said thread protector is applied to the threaded end'of the tube.

2. A thread protector adapted to cover the outer threaded end of a tube and comprising a rubber sleeve and a metallic cup, a plurality of thin axially extending ribs formed on the inner surface of the said rubber sleeve and adapted to hold the said rubber sleeve on the said tube by impingement across the threads thereof, a protective end section formed on the said sleeve adapted, to cover the end of the said tube; an

annular ridge formed inwardly from the said protective end portion thereof so as to retain the said metallic cup in position thereon thru displacement of the said annular ridge when the said thread protector 'is applied to the threaded end of v the tube, together with a plurality of grooves cut radially into the wall of the metallic cup and extending axially thereof adapted to be broken to facilitate its removal from the said tube.

3. A thread protector comprising a rubber sleeve having a protective end section formed thereon and a metallic cup provided with frangible portions therein so that it may be split, the said rubber sleeve and metallic cup being tapered at their adjacent outer ends to enable them to slide easily over obstructions so as to avoid forming sharp edges which would tend to force other thread protectors from their protective positions on other tubes, a plurality of axially extending ribs formed on the inner surface of the said rubber sleeve and adapted to hold the said sleeve in position on the said tube.

4. A- thread protection means comprising a rubber sleeve having a protective U shaped end.

their adjacent outer ends to enable them to s1igie;."f

easily over obstructions so as to avoid forming sharp edges which would tend to force other thread protectors from their protective positions 

